Global Protests Erupt Against Trump’s Conservative Agenda
Massive Demonstrations Planned Across the US and Abroad
Protesters gathered at Trafalgar Square today during a ‘Hands Off!’ demonstration against US President Donald Trump. (AP pic)
CARLSBAD: Some 1,200 demonstrations are planned across the US today in what organisers expect to be the largest single day of protest against President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk since the administration launched its rapid-fire effort to put a conservative stamp on government.
International Solidarity
Hours before the “Hands Off!” protests were due to kick off, hundreds of anti-Trump Americans living in Europe gathered in Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris and London to voice opposition to Trump’s sweeping makeover of US foreign and domestic policies. About 200 people, mostly American, gathered on Paris’ Place de la Republique, listening to speeches and waving banners ranging from “Resist Tyrant”, “Rule of Law” to “Feminists for Freedom not fascism” and “Save Democracy.”
"We have to show solidarity with all the demonstrations in a thousand cities today in the US," Democrats Abroad spokesman Timothy Kautz said in Frankfurt.
Protester Jose Sanchez said Trump was a conman who was destroying US democracy.
US Protests
The protests in the US will give Trump opponents an opportunity to demonstrate their displeasure en masse in response to Trump’s raft of executive orders.
“This is an enormous demonstration that is sending a very clear message to Musk and Trump and congressional Republicans and all the goose-stepping allies of MAGA that we don’t want their hands on our democracy, on our communities, on our schools and our friends and our neighbours,” said Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, one of the groups organising today’s events.
Wide-Ranging Support
Some 150 activist groups have signed up to participate, according to the event’s website. Events are planned in all 50 states plus Canada and Mexico. One of the biggest rallies is expected on Washington’s National Mall.
Controversial Agenda
Trump returned to office on Jan 20 with a stream of executive orders and other measures critics say are aligned with an agenda outlined by Project 2025, a deeply conservative political initiative to reshape government and consolidate presidential authority. His supporters have applauded Trump’s audacity as necessary to disrupt entrenched liberal interests.
White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston disputed the protesters’ charge that Trump aimed to cut social security and Medicaid.
“President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect social security, Medicare and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving social security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors,” Huston said in an email.
Challenges to Trump’s Agenda
Much of Trump’s agenda has been restrained by lawsuits contending he has overstepped his authority with attempts to fire civil servants, deport immigrants and reverse transgender rights.
Pro-Palestinian groups opposing US ally Israel’s renewed military action in Gaza and the Trump administration’s crackdown on campus protests will also participate in Washington and plan to carry out a march, protest groups said in a statement.
A Long History of Protests
At the start of Trump’s first term in 2017, hundreds of thousands of people joined the Women’s March on Washington to demonstrate opposition. Protests this year have been smaller, but activist leaders have been planning to unite for a large-scale event, Levin said.
Indivisible, which formed after Trump’s first election in 2016, has worked with other liberal groups, including MoveOn and the Working Families Party, to unite progressive organisations nationwide.
Organisations Participating
Among the organisations pledged to participate are the Service Employees International Union, a labour union representing about 2 million workers; Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the US; and the environmental group Greenpeace.
Conclusion
Today’s protests mark a significant moment in the growing resistance against Trump’s conservative agenda. The large-scale demonstrations across the US and abroad serve as a testament to the widespread opposition to Trump’s policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: How many demonstrations are planned across the US today?
A: Some 1,200 demonstrations are planned across the US today. - Q: Where are the protests taking place?
A: Protests are planned in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico, with one of the biggest rallies expected on Washington’s National Mall. - Q: What is the purpose of the protests?
A: The protests aim to demonstrate opposition to Trump’s conservative agenda and his administration’s policies. - Q: Which organisations are participating in the protests?
A: Over 150 activist groups have signed up to participate, including the Service Employees International Union, Human Rights Campaign, and Greenpeace.